Stay-at-Home Summoner

[In the air, heading to the United States on Air Force One.]

“Patrick.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

“Can I smooth over the events that occurred during this emergency visit to South Korea with just this one photo?”

“It won’t just smooth things over; it can be used as a card to pressure them.”

Advisor Patrick displayed a large image on the TV in the cabin.

“The whole of America, no, the whole world will analyze this photo. It shows that the President is engaging in positive negotiations with ‘Master’ and highlights the presence of ‘Master,’ assisted by Mrs. Elaine.”

“…There are no traces reflected in the cup, sunglasses, or people’s pupils?”

“As you can see.”

As Advisor Patrick pointed the photo’s reflection toward the President’s sunglasses, another figure was visible sitting with crossed legs.

“Based purely on physique, one could infer that the person is a ‘young man in his mid-20s,’ but due to Miss Elaine’s ‘ability,’ we cannot observe the face or hair. The hands resting on the knees are quite pale for a skin color inference, so one might think he is Caucasian.”

“I suggested taking the photo with some parts slightly exposed intentionally. For future use.”

“Yes. Personally, I would have preferred to keep it completely concealed, but…”

“You’re still lacking, Patrick.”

President Luigi smiled at his advisor while fiddling with the ring on his left hand’s ring finger.

“Since it’s a photo that will spread widely in the international community, it was necessary to reveal his presence even more. As the Master of the maid, ‘Master.'”

“Is it to maintain a political presence?”

“That’s part of it, too, and I can’t stand to see my woman take a photo with another man. Even if he is the President of the United States.”

“…….”

“Anyway, will this photo allow me to smoothly get through the hearings? Issues arising during the process of preparing the private jet, or troubles with Korean politicians?”

“It will escalate further.”

“What do you mean?”

President Luigi’s hand, which was about to sip whiskey, paused.

“Why?”

“Everyone will be curious. How did President Luigi manage to contact the ‘S-Rank Hunter’ in Korea, who no one else could reach first? How did the conversation take place, and what negotiations were exchanged?”

“You’re not expecting me to say all of that?”

“You hurried to take off, so not just the opposition party but members of the ruling party have united. Key senators are constantly reaching out, asking ‘What happened?'”

“Right. From their perspective, it would feel like I kept it a secret from them. It’s understandable.”

President Luigi took a short sip of whiskey.

“I’ll handle their responses, so you think about how to convey the support to ‘Master’ without getting noticed by others. Make sure to avoid Chinese, Russian… or hackers from other places.”

“Understood. However, Mr. President.”

“Is there something more to discuss?”

“Since the photo was posted, people have been saying something. Perhaps…”

“Three months.”

President Luigi wrapped his fingers around the glass with his thumb and index finger, extending the remaining three fingers.

“In three months, he has agreed to tackle Pennsylvania’s S-Rank Tower.”

“……!”

“There will be significant support, and many negotiations ahead. The first negotiation result we can publicly announce will likely be regarding the S-Rank Tower in our United States.”

A hunter who tackled an S-Rank Tower alone.

It’s a thought that cannot be avoided.

Could we possibly…?

“I’ll make the official announcement once I return to the White House and inform the Senate and House. What I give them will be confidential, but we’ve agreed that in exchange for some privileges, he will come to the United States in three months and tackle one S-Rank Tower.”

“Understood. I will convey that to the other advisors as well. …Why three months?”

“It’s a standard.”

President Luigi reclined in his chair and replied.

“If I were to ask him to come in a month, the world would likely clamor for the S-Rank Tower to be tackled monthly.”

“…….”

“And there are still S-Rank Towers remaining in Korea. Of course, if they can showcase their characteristics by quickly dealing with it, they might come to the United States before the three months are up.”

“So, he can come to America once the dangers in Korea are somewhat addressed.”

“Exactly. Master is friendlier to America than expected. Or should I say, he seems to harbor distrust toward his own country. It’s really lucky that he contacted me first.”

President Luigi, sprawled in his chair, waved his smartphone.

“I should catch some sleep until we arrive. Take a picture and post it on social media. Just write the words ‘Mission accomplished.'”

“Must you really…?”

“That way, I’ll have the chance to actually sleep peacefully.”

President Luigi handed the smartphone to Advisor Patrick and closed his eyes.

“I should be able to sleep for about four hours now. …If Master contacts during my sleep, wake me immediately. From now on, in the event of a code red, Master should be contacted.”

“I will keep that in mind. Sleep well.”

Advisor Patrick held the smartphone horizontally and adjusted the angle.

Click.

Click, click.

Clickclickclickclickclickclick.

Twenty minutes later.

Using the best cut after the editing process, a photo of the President of the United States with his eyes closed, together with the words ‘Mission accomplished,’ was uploaded to social media.

As if something had been burned white.

He has not died.

* * *

After riding in a limousine to a specific location and changing vehicles two or three times, I finally arrived home.

“Ah.”

“Welcome back, Master.”

“You’re the one who has worked hard.”

As soon as I entered the house, I threw myself onto the bed.

“It has been the most spectacular twelve hours of my life.”

From being a mere citizen who quit my job in the morning to meeting the President of the United States around noon, and then becoming a dual citizen in the afternoon and returning home.

“What would you like for dinner?”

“Elaine.”

“…Yes?”

“Come lie down and rest, too.”

I pulled Elaine’s hand as she was about to head to the kitchen.

Thud.

Elaine lay down on the bed without much resistance.

“Master, it’s past mealtime. Even though I came back without eating to ensure safety with the President of the United States….”

“If I’m lying down and you’re busy preparing my meal, it makes me uncomfortable.”

“…….”

“Let’s just rest for a while.”

Elaine stood still.

I turned my head toward Elaine while lying down.

“I don’t know how the U.S. will act, but once we build up our performance, they’ll likely ask us to invest a massive amount in some game company.”

“…….”

“And after acquiring the game company, we’ll have some degree of control over you. Oh, saying ‘control’ sounds odd; I mean preventing anyone from making weird plays with you.”

Nerfs, for instance.

Or cutting content.

…Or server explosions.

“Right now, when you are summoned through the app on my awakened phone… ‘Grimoire,’ you are unaffected by outside influence, but if I run the game on that computer’s original launcher, it could change, right? Am I wrong?”

“Is it a sort of ‘synchronization’?”

“Exactly.”

Elaine, who entered my phone app, is like offline data.

While it was a live server when stacking different weapons on a sub-phone to create a top-tier weapon, after transferring that to my main phone’s Grimoire app, she is now in offline server status.

If, right now, the game company decided to make ‘Elaine’s critical hit zero percent,’ and she briefly transitioned back into the original game during which data synchronizes with the server?

‘We can’t let that happen.’

Unbeknownst to me, I have to protect the game company.

Even if they decide to buff Elaine, they must not nerf her, delete the character, or commit some insane act.

Above all, I must protect the server.

To ensure nothing goes wrong with Elaine.

It might be excessive worry, but being cautious can’t be a bad thing.

“Master.”

“Yes?”

“If I had taken a photo holding a memorandum with the President, wouldn’t it have completely hidden your existence?”

Elaine asks.

It’s a question typical of a perfect maid who thoroughly cares for my safety.

“Elaine.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Stay just like that.”

I took out my smartphone, switched to selfie mode, and took a shot of Elaine and me lying on the bed.

“Can you see it?”

“Are you talking about the photo?”

“Yeah. Who is in it?”

“It’s me and you, Master.”

“This way, in the photo or whatever, there’s no one else doing something alone with a man except for me. Do you understand?”

“…….”

Elaine’s expression stiffened for a moment before she soon smiled softly and moved closer to me.

“This way, it will turn out better. Would you like to take one more?”

“Sounds good.”

Click, click.

“Oh, since I’ve signed a contract with the President and received the advance, should we order some late-night snacks?”

“I could make food… but given there aren’t enough ingredients to make the food from scratch, delivery seems fine.”

“You can put whatever ingredients you want to buy in here while eating, and order it to be delivered by setting it for tomorrow. There are still so many things to buy aside from just ingredients.”

I quickly swept my gaze over Elaine.

“Your casual clothes, too….”

“What about them?”

“And what you wear underneath.”

“…A single hoodie from you is sufficient.”

I felt a slight stirring sensation in my heart at that moment.

“Then it seems you would be in trouble, so I’ll dress appropriately. But, Master, where would the money come from?”

“About that, I heard they would test for a week.”

I pulled out my wallet and took out a black credit card.

“If this gets tracked, I’ll have to find another way, but if it doesn’t, you can use this straight away.”

“Is this part of the financial support they provide?”

“Yes.”

What did they say?

They mentioned that spending up to $200,000 won’t be a problem.

$200,000.

That’s the advance payment I received from the contract.

“…I’m not sure if the government will try to trace purchase records, but for now, it should be fine.”

I took out my own card, not the one I received from them.

“Credit cards are usually pay later, a month from now.”

Just like how the money I spent on weapon draws doesn’t exist in my wallet immediately.

“Let’s go ahead and spend freely. I can spend like a maniac up to 2,000 in won as well as dollars.”

“2,000? Has the dollar already come in?”

“Not dollars, won.”

The dream of those who’ve resigned.

“Let’s flex a bit since my severance is coming in. Using both the money I had and the severance, let’s really go for it.”

Spending freely on what I wanted to buy with my severance.

“First of all….”

“First of all…?”

I picked up my sub-phone.

“Let’s start with filial piety.”

Executing. The game in which Elaine appears.

“After buying stamina with cash, I’ll have to match you with the ultimate set of relics and accessories. Then you will become stronger.”

As a summoner of Elaine, my role is clear.

“Elaine, you can grow stronger. Even more than now.”

In this house, we’re playing a game.

“I will make you stronger than anyone else in this world. But instead….”

“But instead?”

“You must stay with me for life?”

In response to my question, Elaine took my finger instead of answering.

“Of course, Master.”

Pinky swear.

“I will be by your side for a lifetime.”

* * *

[Hiiing.]

[Only one summon stack left….]

Inside the smartphone.

The AI is contemplating.

---